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Central Notes: Borowiecki, Lankinen, Spurgeon, Jets

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Nashville’s list of players in COVID protocol continues to grow as the team announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Mark Borowiecki along with another member of their travelling party have been placed in COVID protocol.  The blueliner becomes the eighth active Predators player on the list of those unavailable to play while five other staff members – including their coaching staff – aren’t with the team at the moment either.  Despite that, they are not among the teams that have had games postponed yet with the Preds taking on Chicago tonight.

More from the Central Division:

  • Although the Blackhawks have just one goaltender under contract for next season (prospect Arvid Soderblom), the team has not yet engaged in extension discussions with either Kevin Lankinen or Marc-Andre Fleury, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription link). While Fleury is understandable – there’s no word on whether or not he’d be open to the idea and that needs to be determined before starting talks – the fact that they haven’t discussed anything with Lankinen’s camp is a bit surprising.  His numbers are down a bit from last season but with his limited NHL experience (just 47 career games), he’s someone that should be cheaper than several veteran backups to keep around.  With several key players needing new deals for next season, securing at least one goalie should be fairly high on interim GM Kyle Davidson’s list over the coming weeks.
  • Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon re-aggravated his lower-body injury and had already been ruled out of Saturday’s game against Florida before it was postponed earlier today, relays Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Speaking after the game, head coach Dean Evason had a rather grim comment about his captain’s health, simply saying “It’s not good” which suggests Spurgeon could be out a little longer than just a game or two.
  • The Jets are the latest team to have to cut their capacity, announcing (Twitter link) that their capacity will be cut to 50% for four of their upcoming games beginning on Tuesday. Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal have all had their capacity cut in recent days in accordance with provincial health guidelines.

Oilers Place Duncan Keith In COVID Protocol

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It turns out that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins isn’t the only notable Oilers player to enter COVID protocol today as the team announced that defenseman Duncan Keith has also been placed there.  That triggered a series of moves with Kris Russell being transferred to LTIR retroactive to December 9th, Markus Niemelainen was moved to injured reserve, and Cooper Marody and Seth Griffith were recalled from Bakersfield of the AHL.

Keith is in his first season with Edmonton and it has been a relatively quiet one.  He had just come back from an upper-body injury that caused him to miss seven games and he has been fairly quiet offensively with just five points in 20 games although he is still logging a little over 20 minutes a night in a top-four role.

Between his placement in protocol and Niemelainen (who has averaged 14 minutes a game in his first seven NHL contests) moving to IR, they’re down to just five defensemen on the active roster which makes it a bit puzzling that two forwards were brought up.  However, both Griffith and Marody have been productive with the Condors this season as they sit first and second respectively in team scoring.  Edmonton has had secondary scoring issues pretty much all season long and it appears those two will get a chance to try to contribute.

To make that happen from a cap perspective, Russell had to be shifted to LTIR, giving Edmonton the cap space to afford to bring two players up from the minors instead of just one.  He had been listed as questionable to play in Tuesday’s game but now will miss 10 games and 24 days, pushing his return into January at the earliest.  Given that designation from earlier this week though, he could be ready to return as soon as that time is up.

Ducks Activate Max Comtois Off IR

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The Ducks will be welcoming back an important part of their forward group tonight as Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register notes (Twitter link) that winger Max Comtois has been activated off injured reserve.  He had missed the previous 16 games after breaking a bone in his hand.

2021-22 has been a surprising season for the 22-year-old and not in a good way.  After leading Anaheim in scoring last season with 33 points in 56 games, his production had gone in the complete opposite direction prior to the injury.  This year, he has just a single assist in 13 contests despite still logging over 13 minutes a game while his shots and shot attempts are down considerably.  With Anaheim off to a surprising 17-9-5 start to sit atop the Pacific Division heading into tonight’s game against Arizona, Comtois will have to be more productive if he wants to maintain his spot in the lineup.

Meanwhile, the Ducks will also welcome back John Gibson to the lineup after missing the last two games due to a lower-body injury.  He’ll get the start and give Anthony Stolarz – who is on a nice run as of late with a .951 SV% in his last six games – the night off.  Lukas Dostal was sent back to AHL San Diego in a corresponding move.

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Florida Panthers

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season passes the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Florida Panthers (when it eventually resumes). 

What are the Panthers thankful for?

A resurgent Sergei Bobrovsky.

No team in the league can get by with a player making over $10MM and performing the way Bobrovsky did the last two seasons. He’s being paid like one of the best goaltenders in the league, and he posted a .902 save percentage over his first 81 games with the team.

It’s not that Bobrovsky is competing for the Vezina this year–his numbers aren’t that good–but a .917 has been good enough behind a powerful Florida lineup to result in a 12-3-2 record. Given Spencer Knight’s struggles in his first full season, it was absolutely imperative to have Bobrovsky take the net back.

Who are the Panthers thankful for?

Bill Zito.

Since Zito has arrived in Sunrise just over a year ago, the Panthers have, among other things:

It’s been a pretty successful tenure for the former player agent and Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM in his first go-round as the boss. The Panthers look like they’re set up for long-term success while also being a contender right now.

What would the Panthers be even more thankful for?

A healthy return for Barkov.

It was a brilliant start for the 26-year-old Finn. Barkov had five points in his first three games, 17 in his first 15. But then Scott Mayfield of the New York Islanders caught him with a knee-on-knee collision and things abruptly came to a halt. Barkov would return for one game, but end up back on injured reserve.

Now, as the Panthers are put on hold over the Christmas break due to COVID, Barkov has just played in just 16 of Florida’s 29 games. He doesn’t necessarily need to rush back, the team is good enough to stay in a playoff position without him. But for the Panthers to go on a deep postseason run, they’ll need their big center to be at full strength.

What should be on the Panthers’ Holiday Wish List?

Defensive depth.

There actually may be a case to be made for a better backup goaltender, given the team is currently going with Jonas Johansson behind Bobrovsky at the NHL level. But with Nutivaara on long-term injured reserve without a clear return, the defense could use a boost as well. The top three are locked. Aaron Ekblad, MacKenzie Weegar, and Gustav Forsling are going to continue to log huge minutes for the team when healthy. But Montour’s role has been diminished this year, Radko Gudas is probably playing more than he should, and beyond that, it’s a mix of inexperienced young players.

The idea of adding another legitimate top-four option, someone who can play in all situations and elevate the entire group, could make the Panthers one of the most deadly opponents in the league. A player like Jakob Chychrun–if he’s truly available–would be perfect, but even a lesser name like Ben Chiarot could potentially allow everyone to slot in a little better come playoff time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vancouver Canucks Place Schenn, Lammikko In COVID Protocol

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Dec 17: Tyler Motte has joined Schenn, Lammikko, Tucker Poolman, and Brad Hunt in the COVID protocol today. The Canucks are scheduled to play the Maple Leafs tomorrow, who are dealing with their own protocol situation.

Dec 14: The Vancouver Canucks are facing a COVID outbreak of their own. After canceling morning skate as a precaution, Luke Schenn and Juho Lammikko have been placed in the COVID protocol. Both have tested positive for coronavirus–Schenn yesterday and Lammikko today–while the rest of the traveling party has been tested and will receive the results prior to tonight’s game.

The Canucks have moved Travis Hamonic to long-term injured reserve and recalled Phillip Di Giuseppe from the minor leagues. The team is still currently scheduled to play the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening, before departing for San Jose to face the Sharks on Thursday.

Notably, the Canucks played the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, a team that had two players enter the protocol yesterday (and more positive cases coming, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic) after meeting with the Calgary Flames–a team that has been shut down entirely–last Thursday. The entire league appears to be dealing with an increased positivity rate as Schenn and Lammikko are by no means the first two added to the protocol today.

Arizona Coyotes Place Crouse, Beagle, Galchenyuk In COVID Protocol

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Dec 17: Alex Galchenyuk has also been placed in the COVID protocol, taking another forward out of the mix for the Coyotes.

Dec 16: The Arizona Coyotes announced today that forwards Lawson Crouse and Jay Beagle have entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Beagle was already out of the lineup with a lower-body injury and has just one goal in 21 games this season. It’s a big blow to the team to lose Crouse as well, who’s been one of the team’s more productive players with 11 points in 28 games. He’s one of just five Coyotes with more than 10 points in 2021-22.

They join Johan Larsson, Dmitrij Jaskin, and Jakob Chychrun as players unavailable for the team, although Crouse and Beagle are the only ones in COVID protocol.

The team’s next game is on the road against Anaheim on Friday, but it’s worth noting Crouse played just last night against the Rangers.

Nicklas Backstrom Added To COVID Protocol

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The return for Nicklas Backstrom lasted exactly one day. The Washington Capitals center is unavailable for tonight’s game after being placed in the COVID protocol, just a few days after making his season debut. Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic tweets that Backstrom did not travel to Winnipeg; the Capitals made arrangements for him to return from Chicago to Washington.

That’s three centers the team will be missing tonight, as Backstrom joins Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nic Dowd, Garnet Hathaway, and Trevor van Riemsdyk in the protocol. Dowd and van Riemsdyk were actually cleared and made their return to the lineup in Chicago, but have not cleared the 14-day period that is required to enter Canada. So back on the non-roster list they went, where they’re joined by several key forwards for the Capitals.

The team is expected to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen this evening, with team reporter Mike Vogel suggesting that either Connor McMichael or Aliaksei Protas will have to move to center.

Backstrom played just over 18 minutes in his debut on Wednesday, recording a powerplay assist on Alex Ovechkin’s 21st goal of the season. The Capitals would eventually lose in overtime though, with Caleb Jones scoring the winner for Chicago. The 34-year-old forward will have to wait for a minimum of ten days if he has tested positive and is experiencing any symptoms, certainly not what he was hoping for after such a long recovery period.

AHL Shuffle: 12/17/21

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There are six games scheduled for this evening, but once again that could change at any moment given the league’s widespread COVID absences. If they do all go through, it’ll be Dave Lowry’s first game behind the bench as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, and a chance for the Anaheim Ducks to extend their Pacific Division lead by taking on the last-place Arizona Coyotes. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor shuffling right here.

Atlantic Division

  • The Montreal Canadiens have sent Cayden Primeau back to the minor leagues after winning last night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Primeau stopped 37 of 39 shots in regular play and then all three attempts in the shootout to secure the victory.

Metropolitan Division

  • The Washington Capitals have recalled Zachary Fucale from the minor leagues as a precaution, as they travel to Canada for a game against the Jets. The Capitals, like most teams in the league right now, are dealing with several COVID absences and are likely trying to avoid a situation like the one that played out for Colorado last night.

Central Division

  • The Minnesota Wild have recalled Kevin Czuczman from the AHL, after Jared Spurgeon reaggravated an injury last night. Czuczman, 30, has just 15 NHL games in his long professional career but has been a successful minor league option for years. He last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020-21.
  • Klim Kostin has been sent to the AHL on a conditioning loan, an understandable decision given he hasn’t played a game for the St. Louis Blues since November 24. The 22-year-old forward was expected to grab hold of a full-time roster spot this season but has been plagued by injury and inconsistency so far.
  • The Dallas Stars have recalled Riley Tufte and Thomas Harley from the AHL. As head coach Rick Bowness told team reporter Mike Heika, Harley is up to replace Miro Heiskanen’s play and Tufte’s size will be needed against the Blues. The team recently had Ty Dellandrea and Riley Damiani, but those weren’t the right fit for the upcoming game.
  • With the Colorado Avalanche now off until after the holiday break, they have assigned forward Mikhail Maltsev and defenseman Justin Barron back to the AHL.  Maltsev has been held without a point in six games this season while Barron made his NHL debut on Tuesday.

Pacific Division

  • The Los Angeles Kings have brought up a pair of defensemen, recalling Jacob Moverare and Jordan Spence from Ontario of the AHL.  Moverare is in his second season in North America and has eight points in 19 games for the Reign this season while Spence is in his first professional season and has eight assists in 18 contests.

This page will be updated throughout the day

More Postponements Announced Due To COVID Outbreaks

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The NHL has officially postponed several games, shutting down the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers through the holiday break. The following games will need to be rescheduled:

  • Calgary: Dec 21 vs Anaheim, Dec 23 vs Seattle
  • Colorado: Dec 18 vs Tampa Bay, Dec 20 @ Detroit, Dec 22 @ Buffalo, Dec 23 @ Boston
  • Florida: Dec 18 @ Minnesota, Dec 21 @ Chicago, Dec 23 vs Nashville

The Panthers have been ravaged by COVID recently, placing eight players in the protocol this week. Aaron Ekblad, Frank Vatrano, Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Ryan Lomberg, Brandon Montour, and Carter Verhaeghe are all unavailable for the club, while a postponement could suggest even further poor results in testing today. It would be the second time in just a few days that the Wild have a game postponed due to their opponent’s situation, after missing Tuesday’s match against the Carolina Hurricanes.

For Colorado, this was a predictable outcome after they were stripped of several key players just before game time last night. Darcy Kuemper and Cale Makar were both ruled out despite expecting to play only hours after Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher were added to the protocol. That forced the Avalanche to play shorthanded and with an emergency backup goaltender though according to multiple reports including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Colorado was actually given the option to not play the game. The Avalanche ended up losing the game by a 5-2 margin, and it now looks like they’ll be given a few days to get their outbreak under control.

Calgary has basically the entire organization in the protocol, with just four active players outside of it after Mikael Backlund entered this morning. The team had already seen games on Dec 13, 14, 16 and 18 postponed.

Despite these postponements, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN reports that there is still not a strong push to pause the season entirely. The league instituted some protocol changes recently and, according to Wyshynski, wants to give them “some runway.”

John Tavares, Alexander Kerfoot Placed In COVID Protocol

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The Toronto Maple Leafs had yet to be severely impacted by the spread of COVID around the league, but that changed today. John Tavares and Alexander Kerfoot have been placed in the COVID protocol, while the team has canceled practice for precautionary reasons. All players and traveling staff will undergo further testing today.

Notably, both players took part in Tuesday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, a team dealing with their own outbreak after a cluster of games with the Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes last weekend. Toronto was set to take on the Flames last night before Calgary’s season was put on hold, and are scheduled to play against the Vancouver Canucks tomorrow.

If the positive tests are limited at two, the Maple Leafs will likely continue to move forward with their schedule. The team received Jason Spezza back as an eligible replacement after his suspension was reduced today, and is carrying an extra forward already. The team has one more game on the road trip–in Seattle on Sunday–before returning home for one afternoon match before the Christmas break. If Tavares and Kerfoot have tested positive and are experiencing any symptoms, they’ll miss all of those games.

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